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Campaigners devastated as four trees are felled

CAMPAIGNERS who fought to save a row of trees have been left devastated to find four being felled without warning.

Four lime trees, close to the zebra crossing in Gilnow Road, were cut down on Tuesday morning to “improve road safety”.

It comes three years after the Save the Gilnow Road Trees group’s people power saw Bolton Council bosses abandon plans to chop down a row of trees on the picturesque street.

They saved 33 trees, which line the road up to the entrance of Heaton Cemetery.

An employee at Treescape North West Ltd, who carried out the work, said he felt “sad” to be cutting down healthy trees.

Ian McHugh, who fronts the group of campaigners, said: “Some people just don’t want the trees there. That’s the only reason to cut them down.

“If a proper consultation had been done, then we regrettably would have concluded that for road safety it’s for the best for the trees to be cut down. But we shouldn’t lose the trees accidentally. It feels like cutting them down is a mistake.”

The trees were initially going to be cut down because residents had complained they contributed to a loss of light, pavement disruption, leaves in gutters, growth on trunks, scratched cars as well as concerns regarding their safety.

The trees also interfered with satellite TV reception, it was claimed.

A Treescape North West Ltd staff member, who asked not to be named, said: “There’s nothing wrong with the trees in our opinion and a lot of people don’t want them cut down. But there have been complaints that people can’t see the zebra crossing so it’s 50/50. The trees are probably 70 to 80 years old. It’s sad to see lovely healthy trees come down.”

A Bolton Council spokesman added: “A pedestrian crossing was installed in Gilnow Road a few months ago, however there were some safety issues around the lighting of the crossing.

“Residents were informed at an area forum that the council was considering removing some trees in order to improve natural light and visibility for motorists.

“The council then decided to remove four trees around the crossing and work to remove the trees started.”

Comments

marco999
10:39am Thu 7 Feb 13

Always sad to see to see something like this. I love trees and where would we be without them? What pathetic excuses some people give as an excuse to get rid of them - 'satellite signal is bad, light is poor, leaves block the drains' etc. The plain truth is that trees create mess that residents can't be bothered to clean up such as fallen leaves, bird droppings on their cars, trees sap etc and thats the saddest part of this farce. However there is some comic relief to the story when Gilnow road was described as 'picturesque'!

Always sad to see to see something like this. I love trees and where would we be without them? What pathetic excuses some people give as an excuse to get rid of them - 'satellite signal is bad, light is poor, leaves block the drains' etc. The plain truth is that trees create mess that residents can't be bothered to clean up such as fallen leaves, bird droppings on their cars, trees sap etc and thats the saddest part of this farce. However there is some comic relief to the story when Gilnow road was described as 'picturesque'!marco999

Always sad to see to see something like this. I love trees and where would we be without them? What pathetic excuses some people give as an excuse to get rid of them - 'satellite signal is bad, light is poor, leaves block the drains' etc. The plain truth is that trees create mess that residents can't be bothered to clean up such as fallen leaves, bird droppings on their cars, trees sap etc and thats the saddest part of this farce. However there is some comic relief to the story when Gilnow road was described as 'picturesque'!

Score: 4

boltoncity
12:37pm Thu 7 Feb 13

what a shame there wasnt another solution. it can be a lovely sight that road with all the trees lining it. i hope no more are cut down

what a shame there wasnt another solution. it can be a lovely sight that road with all the trees lining it. i hope no more are cut downboltoncity

what a shame there wasnt another solution. it can be a lovely sight that road with all the trees lining it. i hope no more are cut down

Score: 5

trotter1874
1:13pm Thu 7 Feb 13

I drive down there every morning and I do not understand the health and safety argument IF you are driving at the speed you should be.....it's a misnomer!

If the crossing needs to be made safer, remove the Zebra Crossing and replace it with a Pedestrian Crossing. The satelitte dish argument beggars belief!

I drive down there every morning and I do not understand the health and safety argument IF you are driving at the speed you should be.....it's a misnomer!
If the crossing needs to be made safer, remove the Zebra Crossing and replace it with a Pedestrian Crossing. The satelitte dish argument beggars belief!trotter1874

I drive down there every morning and I do not understand the health and safety argument IF you are driving at the speed you should be.....it's a misnomer!

If the crossing needs to be made safer, remove the Zebra Crossing and replace it with a Pedestrian Crossing. The satelitte dish argument beggars belief!

Score: 3

mralwayscorrect
4:12pm Thu 7 Feb 13

We wanted to see our big new mosque and the trees were blocking our view, just wait until you people find out we're building a car park on top of Overdale.

We wanted to see our big new mosque and the trees were blocking our view, just wait until you people find out we're building a car park on top of Overdale.mralwayscorrect

We wanted to see our big new mosque and the trees were blocking our view, just wait until you people find out we're building a car park on top of Overdale.

Score: -2

[deleted]
5:16pm Thu 7 Feb 13

[deleted]

Is that the car park on the new muslim burial plot, where all the pigs are buried? I wonder how countless generation's managed with road safety before the influx of non English residents totally took over that area? I guess it's nothing to do with blocking out satellite TV signals so they can watch peace tv and the islam channel on Paksat?
.
http://www.thebolton
news.co.uk/comment/c
omment/10144098.Ceme
tery_on_farmland/georgethebrave

Is that the car park on the new muslim burial plot, where all the pigs are buried? I wonder how countless generation's managed with road safety before the influx of non English residents totally took over that area? I guess it's nothing to do with blocking out satellite TV signals so they can watch peace tv and the islam channel on Paksat?
.
http://www.thebolton
news.co.uk/comment/c
omment/10144098.Ceme
tery_on_farmland/

Score: -4

judyben
8:36pm Thu 7 Feb 13

Total disgrace. The crossing is clearly visible . Seems like there are no proper criteria applied by whoever makes these decisions. A neighbour's mature tree fell down during a storm into her roof and had to be felled. The Council sent someone round the next day to tell her to plant another one asap.There are a lot more rees in Gilnow Road and Tudor Avenue. Let's hope they don't start scratching cars and upsetting the residents.

Total disgrace. The crossing is clearly visible . Seems like there are no proper criteria applied by whoever makes these decisions. A neighbour's mature tree fell down during a storm into her roof and had to be felled. The Council sent someone round the next day to tell her to plant another one asap.There are a lot more rees in Gilnow Road and Tudor Avenue. Let's hope they don't start scratching cars and upsetting the residents.judyben

Total disgrace. The crossing is clearly visible . Seems like there are no proper criteria applied by whoever makes these decisions. A neighbour's mature tree fell down during a storm into her roof and had to be felled. The Council sent someone round the next day to tell her to plant another one asap.There are a lot more rees in Gilnow Road and Tudor Avenue. Let's hope they don't start scratching cars and upsetting the residents.

Score: 1

boltonnut
10:22pm Thu 7 Feb 13

The trees where here before you know who.Dam shame.I compost all my leaves and grass to feed my trees,I also communicate with my trees,they sometimes make more sense than humans especialy when Iv'e had a FEW,(yes like now) hic.

The trees where here before you know who.Dam shame.I compost all my leaves and grass to feed my trees,I also communicate with my trees,they sometimes make more sense than humans especialy when Iv'e had a FEW,(yes like now) hic.boltonnut

The trees where here before you know who.Dam shame.I compost all my leaves and grass to feed my trees,I also communicate with my trees,they sometimes make more sense than humans especialy when Iv'e had a FEW,(yes like now) hic.

Score: 0

lindlandl
10:49pm Thu 7 Feb 13

It's a pity that residents who are so concerned about the 'leaves in gutters' are not.bothered by the rubbish in gutters and strewn all over the pavement around this area, which is one of the worst areas for litter in Bolton. I also regularly drive down this road and do not have any problem in seeing the crossing. Perhaps we should question the driving credentials of those who have a problem noticing it. Having taken part in the campaign to save the trees in the first place I think it would be more accurate to describe those who wanted to get rid of the trees as a 'handful of residents' who appeared to be trying to impose their will over the vast majority of residents who wanted them to remain.

It's a pity that residents who are so concerned about the 'leaves in gutters' are not.bothered by the rubbish in gutters and strewn all over the pavement around this area, which is one of the worst areas for litter in Bolton. I also regularly drive down this road and do not have any problem in seeing the crossing. Perhaps we should question the driving credentials of those who have a problem noticing it. Having taken part in the campaign to save the trees in the first place I think it would be more accurate to describe those who wanted to get rid of the trees as a 'handful of residents' who appeared to be trying to impose their will over the vast majority of residents who wanted them to remain.lindlandl

It's a pity that residents who are so concerned about the 'leaves in gutters' are not.bothered by the rubbish in gutters and strewn all over the pavement around this area, which is one of the worst areas for litter in Bolton. I also regularly drive down this road and do not have any problem in seeing the crossing. Perhaps we should question the driving credentials of those who have a problem noticing it. Having taken part in the campaign to save the trees in the first place I think it would be more accurate to describe those who wanted to get rid of the trees as a 'handful of residents' who appeared to be trying to impose their will over the vast majority of residents who wanted them to remain.

Score: 1

wagstaff
9:12am Fri 8 Feb 13

seems to me the only people who realy want these trees to stay are the gangs of asian drug dealers who hang around the phone box , and on the steps down from this picturesque street

seems to me the only people who realy want these trees to stay are the gangs of asian drug dealers who hang around the phone box , and on the steps down from this picturesque streetwagstaff

seems to me the only people who realy want these trees to stay are the gangs of asian drug dealers who hang around the phone box , and on the steps down from this picturesque street

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